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Justice News

District Court Judge Sentences St. Croix Man To 69 Months In Prison

St. Croix, USVI – Senior District Court Jude Raymond L. Finch today sentenced Jahmall Augustine, 20, to 57 months in prison for his felon in possession of a firearm conviction, and 12 months for possession of prison contraband, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent-in-Charge Vito S. Guarino.

Judge Finch also sentenced Augustine to three years of supervised release on the felon in possession count, and one year of supervised release on the prison contraband count. The contraband possession count is to be served consecutively to the felon in possession count. On September 8, 2014, Augustine pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of prison contraband.

Court records show that on May 1, 2014, acting on a tip, a police officer approached Augustine’s car. The officer observed three smoked marijuana cigarettes and two phials. After obtaining Augustine’s consent, the officer searched the car and found a firearm and eight phials containing marijuana.

Court records also show that on April 4, 2013, Bureau of Corrections officials conducted a search of a cell occupied by Augustine and another inmate at Golden Grove Adult Correctional and Detention Facility. The officers discovered and seized one baggie containing marijuana, and a homemade knife, commonly referred to as a shank, from under Augustine’s mattress, both of which are prohibited objects.

U.S. Attorney Sharpe commended the efforts of the Virgin Islands Police Department, the DEA and Bureau of Corrections, who investigated the cases, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry, who prosecuted the cases.

The Elder Justice Program stems from the DOJ Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) to prevent and combat financial fraud and scams that target seniors, elder abuse, and neglect. The mission of the EJI is to strengthen awareness about elder abuse and financial exploitation through education, build law enforcement capacity to respond to elder justice issues, and facilitate prosecution efforts to make our community safer for all.